The book club will meet on Tuesday July 20 at Liz Kissel's home. The book this month is Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. Copies are available at the library and Target.
High on the slopes of Mount Eskel, Miri's family has lived forever, pounding a meager living from the stone of the mountain itself. Miri dreams of working alongside the others in the quarry, but she has never been allowed to work there - perhaps, she thinks, because she is so small.
Then word comes from the lowlands: the king's priests have divined that the prince's bride-to-be - the next princess - will come from Mount Eskel. The prince himself will travel to the village to choose his bride, but first all eligible girls must attend a makeshift academy to prepare for royal lowlander life.
Miri knows the lowlanders would never allow a crown to sit on a mountain girl's head. But what if she were chosen? She could have a better life for herself and her family in the rich, green valleys of the lowlands. That would be any girl's wish - wouldn't it?
